{{Automatic taxobox | taxon = Olividae | image = Oliva kaleontina.jpg | image_caption = live Vullietoliva kaleontina | image2 = Lettered olive 0015.jpg | image2_caption = Shells of Lettered olive, Americoliva sayana | authority = Latreille, 1825 | synonyms_ref = | synonyms = Olivancillariidae | subdivision_ranks = Genera | subdivision = See text }} Olive snails, also known as olive shells and olives, scientific name Olividae, are a taxonomic family of medium to large predatory sea snails with smooth, shiny, elongated oval-shaped shells. The shells often show various muted but attractive colors, and may be patterned also. They are marine gastropod molluscs in the family Olividae within the main clade Neogastropoda. Taxonomy According to the Revised Classification, Nomenclator and Typification of Gastropod Families (2017) the family Olividae consists of five subfamilies: Olivinae Latreille, 1825 – synonyms: Dactylidae H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 (inv.); Agaroniinae Olsson, 1956 Calyptolivinae Kantor, Fedosov, Puillandre, Bonillo & Bouchet, 2017 Olivancillariinae Golikov & Starobogatov, 1975 Olivellinae Troschel, 1869 Distribution Olive snails are found worldwide, in subtropical and tropical seas and oceans. Habitat These snails are found on sandy substrates intertidally and subtidally. Life habits The olive snails are all carnivorous sand-burrowers. They feed mostly on bivalves and carrion and are known as some of the fastest burrowers among snails. They secrete a mucus similar to that of the Muricidae, from which a purple dye can be made. Shell description Physically the shells are oval and cylindrical in shape. They have a well-developed stepped spire. Olive shells have a siphonal notch at the posterior end of the long narrow aperture. The siphon of the living animal protrudes from the siphon notch. The shell surface is extremely glossy because in life the mantle almost always covers the shell.Vermeij, Geerat J (3 April 1995). A Natural History of Shells. Princeton University Press. . pps. 89, 100, 114. The fossil record Olive shells first appeared during the Campanian. Human use Olive shells are popular with shell collectors, and are also often made into jewelry and other decorative items. The shell of the lettered olive, Oliva sayana, is the state shell of South Carolina in the United States. Genera Genera within the family Olividae include: Agaronia Gray, 1839Americoliva Petuch, 2013 (synonym of Oliva) Callianax H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 Calyptoliva Kantor & Bouchet, 2007 Cupidoliva Iredale, 1924Felicioliva Petuch & Berschauer, 2017 † Lamprodomina Marwick, 1931Miniaceoliva Petuch & Sargent, 1986